Destination Fly4free: Coastal Thailand

The coast of Thailand is dotted with so many beautiful islands that it can be hard to narrow down which to visit. Along the coastline, there are lots of snorkelling and diving locations just waiting to be explored. See some of the most breathtakingly beautiful beaches and islands!

Thailand has two long coastlines – the Andaman Coast on the west side, with islands located on the outside of the Thai peninsula (near Myanmar), and the Eastern Gulf Coast on the opposite side. The best time to visit the Andaman Sea is November to April. The Gulf of Thailand is on a separate weather system and gets more sunshine from January to September.

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Phuket, Krabi, Ko Phi Phi & the Similan Islands

Phuket, the largest Thai island, is very developed but it's a good base for plenty of beaches and islands of the Andaman Coast. It offers a rich variety of experiences – culture and fabulous food in Phuket City and intense nightlife in Patong. It also includes nice limestone karst formations of the Phang Nga Bay. Explore many hidden temples scattered around the island. Big Buddha, a 45 meter tall white marble statue on the peak of mount Nagakerd, is visible from anywhere in the southern part of Phuket. Bordering the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary offers a new home for rescued elephants that have suffered from working long hours in the tourism industry. This ethical sanctuary gives them a chance to enjoy as natural and peaceful environment as possible.

Take a ferry to Krabi and spend some time on Ao Nang Beach. Then head to the Railay Beach (Rai Leh) to admire rows of colourful longtail boats and jagged limestone cliffs. The islands on this part of the Thai coast are spread farther apart and you’ll have to allocate time to move around. You can go to the Phi Phi Islands to experience sleeping in Maya Bay, that was made famous by the film "The Beach" featuring Leonardo Di Caprio. Take a snorkelling speedboat trip to the picture-perfect Similan Islands, set 70km off the Thai coast at Andaman Sea. This national park offers idyllic, paradise beaches with fine white sand sloping gently into the crystal clear water. You can spend the night in a tent or bungalow on the island, or on the boat anchored just off the beach.

Photo credit: DR Travel Photo and Video, Iakov Kalinin - Shutterstock / Dorota Olender

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To know more about the other regions, check Destination Fly4free: Inland Thailand >>

How to get there:
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Where to stay:
In Ko Samui you can stay at the top-rated 4* Banburee Resort and Spa. Nestled in a quiet corner of Laem Set Beach, this 4-star resort is a 15-minute ride from the Samui Ferry Pier. It features spa services and 2 dining options. The Curve Bar provides all-day dining at the pool side. Light meals and cocktails can be found at The Canna Restaurant. Guests can enjoy a refreshing dip at the outdoor pool or unwind in the resort’s steam rooms. The resort also provides assistance in tours and sightseeing arrangements. In addition, free parking is provided on site. The spacious rooms of Banburee have modern Thai décor and architecture. Rooms have a private balcony and enjoy panoramic scenery. Each room is also fitted with satellite TV. Banburee Resort is a 35-minute drive from Samui International Airport. It is a 30-minute drive from Chaweng Beach and a 20-mintue drive from the commercial district of Na Thon Town.

In Ko Chang we recommend you to book 4* Mercure Koh Chang Hideaway with excellent reviews. This property is 2-minute walk from the beach. Directly located on Bai Lan Bay, this luxurious 4-star hotel boasts modern Thai-style rooms, a private beach and pampering spa treatments. All come with a flat-screen TV, minibar and tea/coffee making facilities. En suite bathrooms have either hot-water showers or a bathtub. Some room types also feature a private balcony. Guests can relax by the beautiful outdoor pool. Free WiFi is available throughout the property. Relaxing spa treatments include body massage, a sauna and hot tubs. Guests can enjoy a refreshing workout at the gym, or check e-mails at the business centre. There is also a children’s club and babysitting services available. The Bay Restaurant serves both international and Thai cuisines, with unrivalled views of the sea and pool. Room service is available 24 hours. Mercure Koh Chang Hideaway is 44 km from Trat Airport and a 5-hour drive from Bangkok City. Free parking is available.

What to do:
The highly recommended thing to do in Thailand is to take an island hopping tour. You will have a chance to explore some of the most breathtakingly beautiful islands, famous for sandy beaches, lagoons, limestone cliffs, hills and lush tropical vegetation.

Go swimming in the crystal clear waters, sunbathing, kayaking, or just relax and read a book.

Enjoy a lemongrass-scented spa and a relaxing oil massage on the beach.

You can also choose sailing, abseiling, cliff jumping or wake boarding.

Take a freediving course in one of various diving schools. Go scuba diving in Ko Tao to see turtles, stingrays, barracudas, lots of small fish and sharks. The island provides good diving weather nearly any time of the year except November. Average visibility is around 15-20 m, but in good conditions, it can even exceed 40 m.

You don’t have to be a certified diver to enjoy the underwater beauty of Thai islands – you only need a snorkel mask to explore the undersea life. Many sandy beaches offer easy access to shallow, wind-protected bays, that make snorkelling safe. However, some beaches don’t allow fins any more due to coral protection.

If you want to learn about coral reefs, visit one of the marine conservation zones. You can even volunteer in a project to support restoration of reefs and conserving endangered marine life.

Spend the night in one of the jungle’s huts in Khao Sok National Park. Take a day tour to the Phi Phi Islands – Thailand’s largest Marine National Park and backpacker favourite.

Try karst climbing in Railay Beach or go hiking in the unspoiled, natural tropical jungle of Ko Samui. Climb Khao Pom, the largest mountain in the island, peaking at 635 meters. Ko Chang is also great for jungle trekking and tree climbing.

Learn how to cook Thai food. The cooking courses teach how to prepare popular dishes such as spicy soup (tom yum), fried rice noodles (Pad Thai), and so on.

You can also take a basic course of Thai medical massage or practice traditional Thai yoga on a beach.

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Island Hopping In Thailand from Craig Dick on Vimeo.